Grand Terrace City Councilman Jim Miller can be commended for doing right by his constituents and stepping down from office.

Miller resigned Wednesday, nearly eight months after he was arrested on a felony conflict-of-interest charge for voting to approve $18,000 worth of city advertising contracts with his wife’s newspaper.

Miller has pleaded not guilty to that charge, but in court documents and in his letter of resignation, he has made clear he accepts ultimate responsibility for the situation.

Miller’s supporters have rallied around him, which likely provides him some measure of comfort in the face of public disgrace. But should anyone suggest that Miller’s alleged transgressions are a pittance in light of a San Bernardino County corruption scandal involving a $102 million legal settlement with developers who allegedly bribed elected and appointed officials, we must remind them that an elected official’s stewardship of public funds is chief among their responsibilities to those they serve.

Miller has said that he didn’t know it was a conflict of interest to approve payments to his wife’s business, a claim we view with wary skepticism. He has also said his wife plans to repay the money.

It appears that Miller is attempting to right a wrong, and his supporters in Grand Terrace likely appreciate that fact. It’s just a shame anything went wrong in the first place.